Metacast: Behind the scenes

What we've been up to in the second half of the summer + update on the just released Metacast v1.24.Chapters[00:00] Summer hiatus and personal reflections[02:16] User growth and trials[03:44] Website traffic and SEO success[08:14] Managing website costs and bots[12:38] Metacast v1.24: New features[16:14] Web app development & podcaster tools[22:50] Data analytics and privacy[25:16] Anniversary sale[27:44] Upcoming app features and goals[31:50] Recommendations: The Sandman[36:25] Recommendations: The Birkin Bag StoryShow notesBirkin: The Handbag That Costs More Than Your House on The Best Idea YetThe Sandman: Netflix, Comics, AudioDownload the Metacast podcast app for free:iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.player

We've GA-ed private podcasts! In this episode, we talk about the feature, the extra perks for Premium users and celebrate completion of the table stakes features. We end the episode with a banter about Claude Code and a few German phrases.Show notesMichelin Guide: The Tire Company That Accidentally Conquered Food on The Best Idea YetFalling In Reverse - "Watch The World Burn" (live)Download the Metacast podcast app for free:iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.player

We're on the finishing line to launch private podcasts in GA, but it takes a while because we've wasted a lot of time dealing with ops post-Google billing incident.Show notesBack To The Future... And Back - 40 Years of Marty, Doc, & Mayor Goldie Wilson on Talk Is JerichoDownload the Metacast podcast app for free:iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.player

Preparing to launch private podcasts, marketing projects, ops stuff, and a huge (with a capital "H") bill from GoogleShow notesThe Side Hustle King: “I’m making $8K/DAY from easy businesses” on My First MillionThe Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance by Josh WaitzkinFlybot by Dennis E. TaylorDennis E. Taylor, author of best-selling sci-fi series Bobiverse on Builders Gonna BuildDownload the Metacast podcast app for free:iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.player

Every week, we meet for a standup. We summarize our progress in short weekly updates that we record right after our meetings.In this update, we discuss launching private feeds, the new podcast search feature on the web app, and making money.Show notesBobbi Althof's The Really Good PodcastAndre Agassi on ServedNews in Slow SpanishThe Game with Alex HormoziDownload the Metacast podcast app for free:iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.player

Every week, we meet for a standup. We summarize our progress in short weekly updates that we record right after our meetings.In this update, we discuss episode summaries, chapters, and performance improvements. We also cover ongoing backend work, in-person meeting experience (!), planning for upcoming features like private feeds, and share podcast recommendations.Show notesAsterix and Obelix on NetflixEverything Everywhere DailyDownload the Metacast podcast app for free:iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.player

In this episode we discuss why and how we built the new sharing experience (see blog post for v1.19).Download the Metacast podcast app for free:iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.playerSegments[00:20] Opening[00:57] New weekly update episodes[05:22] New podcast sharing experience in Metacast[06:52] Why we are working on sharing?[09:32] The new sharing experience[14:35] QR codes[16:51] Optimized image loading[17:53] Problems with the old URL sharing[23:04] The technical solution for consistently working app links[24:43] The complexity of the change[28:45] Preview of the next episode about rebranding[33:26] RecommendationsShow notesNew sharing experience announcement blogLatest weekly update episode: Weekly Update (May 6, 2025): New sharing experience, new logo & branding67. Attack of LLM bots (podcast) + blogEpisode with Jennie: 42. Equity compensation at a pre-revenue bootstrapped startup with Jennie BuechnerVoices in my head by Falling in ReverseGet in touch🚀 Get the Metacast podcast app: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://metacast.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👥 Join our subreddit: ⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/metacastapp/⁠⁠✉️ Subscribe to Metacast newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👋 Send feedback or say hi: ⁠⁠hello@metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠

Every Tuesday, we meet for a weekly standup. We summarize our progress in short weekly updates that we record right after our meetings.Show notes311: The Long Term on Under the RadarWhen Exactly Did the Roman Empire Fall? on Everything Everywhere DailyDownload the Metacast podcast app for free:iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.player

Every Tuesday, we meet for a weekly standup. We summarize our progress in short weekly updates that we record right after our meetings.Show notesCalendar Reform on Everything Everywhere Daily10 growth tactics that never work | Elena Verna on Lenny's Podcast317: Optimizing for Battery Life on Under the RadarDownload the Metacast podcast app for free:iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.player

Every Tuesday, we meet for a weekly standup. We'll summarize our progress in short weekly updates that we record right after our meetings.Show notesAttack of the LLM bots (blog post)Big Takeaways From Podcast Movement Evolutions 2025 on BuzzcastEpisode 2 - “Through the Valley” on HBO's The Last of Us PodcastDownload the Metacast podcast app for free:iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.player

In this episode we recap our Q1: what we shipped, distribution challenges, siloing engineering workstreams + a bunch of tangential topics.Download the Metacast podcast app for free:iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/metacast/id6462012536Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.metacast.podcast.playerSegments[00:00] Opening[02:09] New feature: Chapters[05:27] New feature: Following a.k.a. Podcast Inbox[06:17] Feedback from Grumpy Old Geeks[08:10] Ilya turning into full-time engineer[12:02] We don't vibe code![14:49] AI summaries in the web app[16:52] Full transcripts in the web app[18:39] Web is the innovation platform[19:45] Better sharing images[21:01] New blogging framework[24:08] Restarting marketing[26:05] The distribution challenge[27:13] Discoverability on App Store[28:34] The cold start problem[30:04] 1000 fans[30:56] Distractions in Q1[31:15] Spiking GCP costs[33:52] LLM bots update[34:28] Taxes[37:55] Siloing[39:20] Working in person again![40:11] What we're listening to[48:20] Where people can find usShow notesBlog postsMetacast: Q1 2025 RetrospectiveOur biggest struggle — distributionEpisode chapters now available in Metacast podcast appPodcast Inbox now available in Metacast podcast appLLM bots + Next.js image optimization = recipe for bankruptcy (post-mortem)DIY Delaware C-Corp taxes for a new startup with no funding, no payroll and no assetsPodcasts661: The Nightmare Before Overcast on Grumpy Old GeeksEverything Everywhere DailyDo trade deficits matter? on Planet MoneyJosh Waitzkin on The Joe Rogan Experience#792: Seth Godin on Playing the Right Game and Strategy as a SuperpowerBooksThe Art of Learning by Josh WaitzkinGet in touch🚀 Get the Metacast podcast app: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://metacast.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👥 Join our subreddit: ⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/metacastapp/⁠⁠✉️ Subscribe to Metacast newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👋 Send feedback or say hi: ⁠⁠hello@metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠

Our website got slammed by LLM bots from Amazon and Anthropic, which could've cost us $7k in Vercel image optimization costs!Get Metacast podcast app for Android and iOS at https://⁠⁠⁠metacast.app⁠⁠⁠.Join the ⁠⁠r/metacastapp⁠⁠ subreddit.Segments[00:20] Introduction and episode overview[01:31] New features and updates[03:02] Why do we keep applying to YC?[08:53] The LLM bot invasion incident[21:26] We re-allowed LLM bots to crawl the site[28:22] Book & podcast recommendationsShow notesPostsLLM bots + Next.js image optimization = recipe for bankruptcy (post-mortem)BooksRed Rising by Pierce BrownLittle Golden America by Ilya Ilf and Eugene PetrovGet in touch🚀 Get the Metacast podcast app: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://metacast.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👥 Join our subreddit: ⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/metacastapp/⁠⁠✉️ Subscribe to Metacast newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👋 Send feedback or say hi: ⁠⁠hello@metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠📕 Get our book! The Pragmatic Podcaster: a step-by-step guide to starting an amazing podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFPMT8WW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👚 Metacast merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://merch.metacastpodcast.com

In the first episode of 2025, we discuss the lowlights of last year and sharing our high-level plans for 2025.Get Metacast podcast app for Android and iOS at https://⁠⁠⁠metacast.app⁠⁠⁠.Join the ⁠⁠r/metacastapp⁠⁠ subreddit.Segments[02:23] User feedback[06:48] Fixing the leaky bucket of the intro screen[11:00] New feature: Episode inbox[15:11] Investing in the web app[18:24] The hard parts of 2024[23:25] We have to make it work, or else...[30:38] Why we're putting energy in SEO[33:28] Becoming more pragmatic[35:57] Podcast & book recommendationsShow notesPodcastsBootstrapped WebThe PanelPostsWhat's happening with founders over 40 by Justin JacksonBooksRed Rising by Pierce BrownThe Pragmatic Programmer by Dave Thomas & Andrew HuntLittle Golden America by Ilya Ilf and Eugene PetrovGet in touch🚀 Get the Metacast podcast app: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://metacast.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👥 Join our subreddit: ⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/metacastapp/⁠⁠✉️ Subscribe to Metacast newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👋 Send feedback or say hi: ⁠⁠hello@metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠📕 Get our book! The Pragmatic Podcaster: a step-by-step guide to starting an amazing podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFPMT8WW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👚 Metacast merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://merch.metacastpodcast.com

In this holiday edition episode, we discuss the past year's highlights, a recent outage, and the rapid emergence of Bluesky as a social media platform. Get Metacast podcast app for Android and iOS at https://⁠⁠⁠metacast.app⁠⁠⁠.Join the ⁠⁠r/metacastapp⁠⁠ subreddit.Segments[00:20] Welcome to the holiday edition[01:24] Year in review: launches and growth[04:06] Challenges and user feedback[07:12] The big outage and serendipitous solution[10:16] Switching to a new transcription service[18:39] App updates[21:37] The journey of implementing timestamps[24:58] The rise of Bluesky[37:55] Podcast recommendationsShow notesPodcastsThe Joe Rogan ExperienceGet in touch🚀 Get the Metacast podcast app: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://metacast.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👥 Join our subreddit: ⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/metacastapp/⁠⁠✉️ Subscribe to Metacast newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👋 Send feedback or say hi: ⁠⁠hello@metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠📕 Get our book! The Pragmatic Podcaster: a step-by-step guide to starting an amazing podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFPMT8WW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👚 Metacast merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://merch.metacastpodcast.com

We've chatted with a VC-backed founder who is on the brink of closing shop. Listen to our reflections on this. Plus, a breakdown of latest Metacast features!Get Metacast podcast app for Android and iOS at https://⁠⁠⁠metacast.app⁠⁠⁠.Join the ⁠⁠r/metacastapp⁠⁠ subreddit.Segments[01:26] New features in Metacast[01:42] Sleep timer[06:21] Speed control[12:32] Grid view in playlists[15:37] Goals for the next month[17:07] Our chat with a VC-backed startup founder[28:56] Podcast and books recommendationsShow notesPodcastsGet Sleepy: Sleep meditation and storiesBroken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond7. Jason Fried on building products, calm companies and the Jeff Bezos investment - Builders Gonna BuildMy Dad Wrote A PornoThe Big Porn Debate (3 Experts Debate): The Unseen Dangers Of Nofap, The Adult Industry Is Exploiting Our Brains, How Porn Will Change Your Brain! - The Diary Of A CEO with Steven BartlettBooksObviously Awesome by April DunfordOtherLinkedIn post about speed control in audio by IlyaGet in touch🚀 Get the Metacast podcast app: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://metacast.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👥 Join our subreddit: ⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/metacastapp/⁠⁠✉️ Subscribe to Metacast newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👋 Send feedback or say hi: ⁠⁠hello@metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠📕 Get our book! The Pragmatic Podcaster: a step-by-step guide to starting an amazing podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFPMT8WW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👚 Metacast merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://merch.metacastpodcast.com

We've launched with a price of $49.99/year, but we realized it's too high. We're lowering it to $19.99/year or $1.99/month.Get Metacast podcast app for Android and iOS at https://⁠⁠⁠metacast.app⁠⁠⁠.Join the ⁠⁠r/metacastapp⁠⁠ subreddit.Segments[01:14] How we decided to lower the price for Metacast[03:03] Initially we had three plans[04:48] Pulling the andon cord[06:40] One password app's reference point[08:21] Why we're not adding ads[11:35] Enshittification of consumer apps[14:21] Our costs for running the app[17:52] Rolling out the pricing change[20:05] Podcast and book recommendationsShow notesPodcastsPrevious episodes with Jennie: 42. Equity compensation at a pre-revenue bootstrapped startup, 17. From Teacher to Software Engineer at AmazonHandsomeThe Mark Zuckerberg Interview - AcquiredMeta’s Race for Your Face + Google’s Hit A.I. Notebook + HatGPT - Hard Fork#446 – Ed Barnhart: Maya, Aztec, Inca, and Lost Civilizations of South America - Lex Fridman Podcast#369 – Paul Rosolie: Amazon Jungle, Uncontacted Tribes, Anacondas, and Ayahuasca - Lex Fridman Podcast#429 – Paul Rosolie: Jungle, Apex Predators, Aliens, Uncontacted Tribes, and God - Lex Fridman PodcastBooksFast Second: How Smart Companies Bypass Radical Innovation to Enter and Dominate New Markets by Constantinos C. Markides, Paul A. GeroskiGet in touch🚀 Get the Metacast podcast app: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://metacast.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👥 Join our subreddit: ⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/metacastapp/⁠⁠✉️ Subscribe to Metacast newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👋 Send feedback or say hi: ⁠⁠hello@metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠📕 Get our book! The Pragmatic Podcaster: a step-by-step guide to starting an amazing podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFPMT8WW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👚 Metacast merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://merch.metacastpodcast.com

We've launched Metacast in Apple App Store. In this episode, we talk about the process and Apple's feedback.Get Metacast podcast app for Android and iOS at https://⁠⁠⁠metacast.app⁠⁠⁠.Join the ⁠⁠r/metacastapp⁠⁠ subreddit.Segments[00:51] Big milestone![02:38] Apple requires screenshots for older phones[05:23] iPad screenshots[07:17] Apple's responses[12:11] The rejection we couldn't figure out[16:14] Apple vs. Google review feedback[20:26] Marketing the app[25:13] Podcast and book recommendationsShow notesPodcasts#2190 - Peter Thiel - The Joe Rogan Experience#442 – Donald Trump Interview - Lex Fridman PodcastBooksNot Till We Are Lost: Bobiverse, Book 5 by Dennis E. TaylorGet in touch🚀 Get the Metacast podcast app: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://metacast.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👥 Join our subreddit: ⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/metacastapp/⁠⁠✉️ Subscribe to Metacast newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👋 Send feedback or say hi: ⁠⁠hello@metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠📕 Get our book! The Pragmatic Podcaster: a step-by-step guide to starting an amazing podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFPMT8WW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👚 Metacast merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://merch.metacastpodcast.com

In this episode we discuss a couple of weeks when our Slack went silent, a slow grind to launch on iOS, and talk about the word we want Metacast to be known for.Get Metacast podcast app for Android and iOS at https://⁠⁠⁠metacast.app⁠⁠⁠.Join the ⁠⁠r/metacastapp⁠⁠ subreddit.Segments[02:12] Confessions of a lonely founder[07:12] iOS and Flutter woes[18:33] The Wizard of Oz feature for OPML import[23:30] What is the word you want to be known for?[29:38] Podcast and book recommendationsShow notesPodcasts596: A New Foundation for Progress - Accidental Tech Podcast300: The Aftermath - Under the RadarI like to Read My Podcasts - Comfort ZoneBooksThe Storyteller by Dave GrohlThe 22 Immutable Laws of Branding by Al Ries & Laura RiesNight Watch: Book One by Sergei LukyanenkoGet in touch🚀 Get the Metacast podcast app: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://metacast.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👥 Join our subreddit: ⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/metacastapp/⁠⁠✉️ Subscribe to Metacast newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👋 Send feedback or say hi: ⁠⁠hello@metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠📕 Get our book! The Pragmatic Podcaster: a step-by-step guide to starting an amazing podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFPMT8WW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👚 Metacast merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://merch.metacastpodcast.com

We've launched Metacast on Android. In this episode, we talk about the feedback we received, first haters, Google Play store violations, and our launch process. We cover topics of feature toggling, versionGet Metacast podcast app for Android and iOS at https://⁠⁠⁠metacast.app⁠⁠⁠.Join the ⁠⁠r/metacastapp⁠⁠ subreddit.Segments[02:16] Quick update on Android launch[07:57] Marketing and retention[11:17] Our first one-star review on Play Store[15:39] Feedback from the Overcast subreddit[19:37] Our launch process[23:15] Our first violation in the Play Store[25:13] Feature toggling[27:48] Versionarte[29:05] Transitioning of existing users[32:20] What we're listening to and readingShow notesPodcastsNetworks & Audiences on Bootstrapped Web#1881 - Rick Rubin on The Joe Rogan ExperienceBooksThe Storyteller by Dave GrohlDavid and Goliath by Malcolm GladwellGamesNeed For Speed: No LimitsGet in touch🚀 Get the Metacast podcast app: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://metacast.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👥 Join our subreddit: ⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/metacastapp/⁠⁠✉️ Subscribe to Metacast newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👋 Send feedback or say hi: ⁠⁠hello@metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠📕 Get our book! The Pragmatic Podcaster: a step-by-step guide to starting an amazing podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFPMT8WW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👚 Metacast merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://merch.metacastpodcast.com

Big announcement - we've launched Metacast on Android in Google Play Store! In this episode, we talk about deciding the scope for v1, punting on features, and pricing.Get Metacast at ⁠⁠⁠metacast.app⁠⁠⁠. New users get 51% off Metacast Premium until end of August 2024.Join the ⁠⁠r/metacastapp⁠⁠ subreddit.Segments[00:22] We've launched in Google Play Store![02:58] Preparation for launch[04:01] What makes Metacast app different from other podcast apps?[13:49] Features we punted at launch[20:45] Pricing Metacast Premium[27:48] Podcast and book recommendationsShow notesPodcastsПодкасты Михаила ГребенюкаThings You Thought You Knew – Planet X on the StarTalk Radio podcastBooksAnansi Boys by Neil GaimanNeverwhere by Neil GaimanGet in touch🚀 Get the Metacast podcast app: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://metacast.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👥 Join our subreddit: ⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/metacastapp/⁠⁠✉️ Subscribe to Metacast newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👋 Send feedback or say hi: ⁠⁠hello@metacastpodcast.com⁠⁠📕 Get our book! The Pragmatic Podcaster: a step-by-step guide to starting an amazing podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFPMT8WW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👚 Metacast merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://merch.metacastpodcast.com